A Judge Just Gave an Entire College Football Class a Fifth Year - and the NCAA Is Racing to Appeal

The Ruling

A federal judge has ruled that the NCAA cannot stop players from the 2022 recruiting class who have completed four years of eligibility from returning for a fifth season. According to CBS Sports, Colorado District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney issued the decision in the Wisne v. NCAA case, and its effect was immediate: an entire class of college football players who believed their careers were over now have a path back onto the field.

Who It Covers

The scope is large. According to CBS Sports, hundreds and potentially thousands of Football Bowl Subdivision players could qualify, though most Power Four programs had three or fewer eligible players on their rosters. The ruling names the class rather than a single athlete, which is what gives it weight. Among the players identified as newly eligible were Arizona State safety Myles Rowser, Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos, and Virginia defensive end Cazeem Moore.

Winners and Losers

The winners are clear. Former athletes from the 2022 class seeking more playing time gain a season, and programs looking for experienced roster depth gain options weeks before the fall. The loser is the NCAA, whose eligibility restriction was set aside by the court. For a governing body already battered by legal challenges over how it controls athletes’ careers and compensation, the decision is another loss on the central question of who gets to say when a player is finished.

The NCAA’s Response

The NCAA is not accepting the outcome. According to CBS Sports, the organization is expected to quickly appeal the order to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. That sets up the second beat of the story: the ruling is real and in effect now, but it is not necessarily permanent. Schools weighing whether to add a fifth-year player must do so knowing the ground could shift again.

Why Programs Are Cautious

Athletic departments have reason to hesitate. Coaches and general managers remember the Charles Bediako basketball case, in which a similar injunction was later overturned, according to CBS Sports. That precedent hangs over every roster decision made in the coming weeks. Add a player now, and a reversal on appeal could unwind the plan mid-season. As one Power Four general manager put it, the calculus is unavoidable. The ruling changed the rules overnight; the appeal will decide whether the change lasts.

References: College Footballs Eligibility Court Ruling | Courts Hand Ncaa Major Loss on Five Year Eligibility Rule